The defect
ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX EC-30T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS (ECU). IF THE TRAILER-MOUNTED ABS WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT EXPERIENCES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND THE SHORT IS NOT REPAIRED, THE HIGH SIDE POWER SWITCH INSIDE THE ECU THAT CONTROLS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE TRAILER-MOUNTED ABS WARNING LAMP MAY EVENTUALLY BECOME THERMALLY STRESSED AND EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
The risk
IF THE POWER SWITCH SHORTS, IT CAN RESULT IN AN OVER-CURRENT CONDITION IN THE ECU AND LEAD TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
The remedy
BENDIX WILL PROVIDE A REMEDY KIT AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AND ALSO PROVIDE A LABOR ALLOWANCE FOR THE REPAIR. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BENDIX AT 1-800-478-1793 OR UTILITY AT 626-965-1541.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Utility TS2CHA | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Utility VS1R | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Utility VS1RA | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Utility VS2DC | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Utility VS2R | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Utility VS2RA | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Utility VS3DC | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Utility VS4RA | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility TS2CHA | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility TS2CHA | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Utility TS2CHA | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility TS2CHA | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS1R | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS1R | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Utility VS1R | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS1R | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS1RA | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS1RA | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS1RA | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS1RA | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS2DC | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS2DC | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS2DC | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS2DC | 2003 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS2R | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS2R | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Utility VS2R | 2002 | 0 | 3 |
| Utility VS2R | 2003 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS2RA | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS2RA | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS2RA | 2002 | 0 | 3 |
| Utility VS2RA | 2003 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS3DC | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS3DC | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS3DC | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| Utility VS3DC | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS4RA | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility VS4RA | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
Other service brakes, air recalls in 2003
79 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the service brakes, air; UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANY filed 7 campaigns in all.
| 03V518000 10 Dec 2003 | WELLCO MANUFACTURING, INC. |
| 03V501000 5 Dec 2003 | FEATHERLITE, INC. |
| 03V498000 4 Dec 2003 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 03V500000 4 Dec 2003 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 03V441000 4 Nov 2003 | HACKNEY |
| 03V433000 4 Nov 2003 | HYUNDAI TRANSLEAD |
| 03V432000 4 Nov 2003 | STRICK CORPORATION |
| 03V430000 3 Nov 2003 | TRAILMOBILE CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003